Jaroslav Janus shook off two second-period mistakes to move the Erie Otters into the middle of a logjam in the Ontario Hockey League's Midwest Division standings.
Janus made 36 saves - one coming on a first-period penalty shot - and Brandon Biggers had a pair of goals to lead the Otters to a 4-2 win over the Kitchener Rangers.
Janus stopped all 12 shots he faced in the first period, including a Jeff Skinner penalty shot. After the Rangers trimmed a 3-0 deficit to one with goals 57 seconds apart in the second period, Janus buckled down and was perfect the rest of the way as the Otters (13-13-2-0) won for the second time in three games.
With the win, Erie drew even with the Rangers (13-11-1-1) and kept pace with the Owen Sound Attack in the race for third place in the division. Owen Sound beat Barrie 5-2 Wednesday, leaving all three teams at 28 points.
In other OHL action Wednesday, it was: Belleville 7 Kingston 1; and Owen Sound 5 Barrie 2.
At Kitchener, Ont., Greg McKegg and Shawn Szydlowski added singles for Erie.
Scott Timmons and Jason Akeson, while shorthanded, replied for Kitchener, who had a 35-save effort in defeat from Josh Unice.
Bulls 7 Frontenacs 1
At Belleville, Ont., Bryan Cameron's hat trick led the Bulls to a rout of Kingston.
Luke Judson added a pair of goals while Andy Bathgate and Matthew Tipoff had singles for the Bulls (20-7-2-2).
Nathan Moon had the only goal for Kingston (6-18-4-2).
Attack 5 Colts 2
At Owen Sound, Ont., Mike Lomas scored three goals in the Attack's win over Barrie.
Joe Vanni added his first two goals of the season for Owen Sound (11-10-4-2).
Colin Behenna and Darren Archibald replied for the Colts (12-14-1-1).